Physical exam items laid out

Stuff was laid out and young medical assistant explained to me that this was the flexible tube scope they would use on me. I couldn't look her in the eye. I am sure she was enjoying herself.

At my last exam, the nurse and i were back in the room going through all the preliminaries. As we were talking she laid out the stuff for a DRE (lube, glove, etc) on the counter. She then handed me a gown and asked me to get undressed as she left the room.

I thoroughly enjoy watching the nurse retrieve things from the drawers and cabinets and lay them out to prepare for my exam. The usual items include a tube of KY lube, a hem-occult card and some exam gloves. It's exciting knowing that very shortly the gloves will be pulled onto my doctor's hands, she will apply the lube to a finger or two, and then I will be penetrated by her while I'm on my knees on the exam table. And it's equally exciting to know that the nurse knows exactly what the doctor is about to do to me.

Nope just pulled it out when needed.

My doctor has never laid the items out, but once while i was waiting for the doctor to come in, i went and went through his drawers to see what kind of tools he had in there and lets just say, there are some things in there that i hope never get used on me 😉

I had a physical last week from the same doctor that I have been going to for quite some time and this experience was different. When I walked into the exam room there wasn't the usual exam gloves and tube of lubricant sitting on the counter like normal. But their was the cloth exam gown already sitting on the exam table.

I've never seen any instruments laid out prior to my appointment, other than as previously mentioned the stethoscope, blood pressure cuff etc

Love the visuals!

I wouldn't think it would be unusual for a guy to be taken back to an exam room by a nurse where an exam gown is already laying on the exam table and see the nurse put the exam gown away instead of telling the guy to strip down and put it on. Probably depends on the age of the doc but aren't older docs more likely to have male patients strip to their underpants for an exam rather than use a gown. Anyone have a young doc, male or female, do that?

The doctor where we used to take our kids was a family practice doc. He had the gloves hanging on the wall next to the little light thing that shined in your ears and nose. On the counter was a few glass jars of long q-tips, gauze, etc. And laying next to those was always a big tube of lubricant. So it was always on display in every room we were ever in. Very intimidating!

Nurse do prepration before exam.. placing gowns removing gloves aline table sheet and as such very less instruments are uaed in male exam...

In my gyn exams, the rolling table has all supplies, instruments etc. covered. The exam table is covered with waxed paper sheet and cloth exam gown is placed on top of it. In internist physical exam, the paper gown is never present and the nurse pulls it out of a drawer under exam table after she asks me to get all my clothes off. I always asks if she wants me completely naked or can I keep my panties on. I really know the answer already but love to ask. Completely naked by the way!!!

Never had that happen, other than for a play exam. That would be such a turn on though

At my dermatologist's office there are always vials of local anesthetic, syringes, other chemicals, liquid nitrogen sprayer, microscope slides and dissecting tools. Can make you a little nervous.

For a play exam, i usually ask my patient if they would like to see the equipment laid out while they are waiting and i am taking their medical history. Soe like to have it come as asurprise, others like to see it because it heightens their anticipation.

These days, some instruments are mounted on the wall, exam gloves in a dispenser on the counter, tong depressors in a jar, lubricant tube in a drawer. I remember when I was eleven, I needed a physical for summer camp. The form the doctor had to fill out was legal size with lots of check boxes and blanks to fill out. I was led to the examining room and handed the form to the nurse. She looked it over and told me to strip down to my briefs. Then she began to pull some things out of the drawer that I hadn't seen before. She placed a pair of gloves and a tube of lubricant on the counter along side the form. I found out what they were for when the doctor had me bend over the table and he gave me a DRE.

I remember when I was eleven, I needed a physical for summer camp...I found out what they were for when the doctor had me bend over the table and he gave me a DRE.

I'm amazed that you received a DRE at age eleven. Do you know if that was specifically on the form that you gave to the doctor? Or were you having some problems in that area and the doctor just felt that you required the rectal exam?

As an aside, I always think it's exciting to watch the nurse as they first realize why you're there. Many times it seems that they routinely bring you back to the exam room without first knowing exactly why you're there or what type of exam or procedure the doctor will need to do. Then as they look at the form and realize that it requires a hernia exam, or maybe even a rectal, they realize that you'll need to undress. Sometimes you can almost sense a hint of excitement in their voice as they instruct you to strip down. Or maybe they feel embarrassed for you, knowing what the doctor is about to do to you.

Normally at 11 age, it was not necessary to perform a DRE, except for special reasons.

May be it was required on a regular form for summer camps even if it would be unusual. It explained why your doctor performed it at your physical .

I have had personnally my first DRE at my pre-induction military physicals and it was more to respect the mentions required on the form than by medical necessity in my opinion a visual inspection of the anus area would have been certainly enough but the military doctors preferred to perform a very thorough examination including all private examinations like a DRE even without real necessity

Are you talking about a real exam or a play exam? If real then get in, get it done and leave. If play then tell your partner up front what you want.

I love how the nurse lays out items on the tray while I'm undressing, especially when she lays out the gloves...

I have not been in an exam room with items especially laid out, although the BP cuff was attached to the wall; the opthalmoscope was as well, and there may have been some tongue depressors in a jar, but nothing else. Gloves, syringes, alcohol swabs, lube were all in drawers or cabinets. The few times I accompanied my wife to her gyn, there was nothing laid out, The speculum collection was in a drawer. The only time I saw anything laid out at one of her appointments was the one time when she was coming in for a shot and the prepared syringe and a swab were waiting for her when we entered the exam room.

Anybody play with the stethoscope before the doctor comes in and uses it on you?

I never leave my stethoscope anywhere but in my pocket. Too much chance that someone will steal it. In the emergency department I never leave any of my tools anywhere because they acquire legs and run off.

If I'm having a physical done, after talking with the doctor in his office the nurse escorts me to the exam room where she does my vital signs. Next she takes the supplies for the exam out of the drawers and lays them out on the counter, or a tray, and covers them up. Then she tells me to strip down to my shorts and leaves the room.

I love the anticipation even though I know everything that is under the cover.

... and covers them up.

Interesting that she went to the trouble of covering up the exam items. Why do you think she did that? As you said, it's not as if you don't already have a good idea what the doctor will be doing to you and what items are under the cover.

With most Gp's in the UK, things like the Sphygmomanometer ( blood pressure machine) are clearly visible on entry to the GP's Consultation/Exam room. Most generally have their stethoscope hanging around their necks. At the bottom of the exam couch or next to it is usually a wheel trolley which is covered usually by a green drape. Under which contains an assortment of speculums sizes in their sterile packaging, KY jelly and gloves. There are no gowns but there may be a white sheet present on the couch. Surrounding this exam couch is either a curtain or a fold away privacy screen.

At CF clinic ( in respiratory department) there are seperate cubicles to prevent cross contamination from other patients. The Dr moves along the cubicles. Each cubicle is laid out the same . Exam bed , scales, BP machine . On a trolley which isn't covered there are tissues, tongue depressors , antibacterial wipes , the disposable tubes for the spirometer , thermometer and sputum pots . The stethoscope is cleaned in front of me before use with the wipes .

In urology clinic there is the exam bed and BP machine . Covered on a trolley near the sink are catheters , speculums , urine pots , swab sticks , urine dip sticks , tissues , wipes . If sounds or any other instruments are needed the nurse usually brings those in covered on a trolley .

I had that experience with my Pediatrician. He probably wanted to do the procedures quickly, particularly with an uncooperative child as I and others were sometimes. My GP usually had her exam things in drawers or cabinets and did her procedures much more slowly. Also agree with the cleanliness and sterility issues identified earlier.

It's really not necessary to have the tools of exam sterile unless the patient is in reverse isolation. It's esthetically nice to use clean ear specula. I don't clean much of anything else though. Maybe not what you want to hear.

In 1978 I awoke, went to the toilet and blood poured out of my bottom. I was terrified. Called my Fam. Doc and went to see him. I was put into an exam room and his RN came in with a rigid sigmoidoscope, lots of KY on a paper towel. She put these items on the table, glanced at me and smirked. I thought this is going to hurt like hell. Actually, it was not that bad. He pulled the scope out and it was dripping with blood. I freaked and asked if it was colon cancer. He said,"No, you're too young for that. It's probably an ulcer in the stomach or duodenum." An upper G.I. the next day confirmed a duodenal ulcer that had clotted by then.